Conte pleased with Tottenham's confidence-boosting win ahead of Arsenal and Man City games


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Antonio Conte praised his Tottenham players for showing "great character" in their convincing 4-0 win at Crystal Palace on Wednesday night and believes it will help the team's confidence ahead of upcoming matches against Arsenal and Manchester City.

The pressure had been turned up on Conte and his squad following a 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa last time out extended a disappointing run of form, with the Italian suggesting he could leave if he was not provided the resources to take the club forward.

However, it was a much-improved performance at Selhurst Park as Harry Kane scored twice before goals from Matt Doherty and Son Heung-min secured an emphatic victory and boosted Tottenham's top-four hopes. Spurs are fifth in the Premier League table, two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United having played a game more.

It was also the first time in 11 games where Tottenham had opened the scoring.

“It’s always important to get three points and have this type of win,” Conte said. “This brings confidence. The game against Aston Villa, after a good first half, we conceded the goal and our confidence dropped a lot.

"To recover in two or three days after a defeat at home where we are expected to win, and to go again, was not easy. The response was really good. My players showed great character, great personality.”

After an FA Cup third-round tie at home against Portsmouth on Saturday, Spurs face fierce rivals and table-toppers Arsenal on their return to league duty next Sunday. Four days later, they travel to face champions Manchester City, whom they play again at the start of February.

Crystal Palace v Tottenham player ratings

Not only does Conte feel that the win over Palace will provide some valuable confidence, but he also hopes to welcome back several players in time for those crucial matches.

“We know we face Arsenal and Man City, the two title contenders for this Premier League,” he said. “To arrive with a good win is really important. I hope to recover players who are injured. We are talking about important players. I hope in these 10 days to have all the players available: Richarlison, Kulu [Dejan Kulusevski], [Rodrigo] Bentancur.”

Palace were expected to present a challenge to Tottenham but manager Patrick Vieira said his team was undone by the "quality of the Spurs forwards".

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte praised his players for showing 'great personality'. PA
Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte praised his players for showing 'great personality'. PA

“It was a tough night,” Vieira said. “To concede four goals, I think that doesn’t reflect the quality of the game we played today.

“I think we deserved more, especially in the first half with those situations and chances we created, and of course, when they scored that first goal, it became really difficult for us

“When those [Tottenham] players have a little bit of space, they can hurt any team. The way they managed the game and the way they managed the difficult period they had showed a huge difference between the two teams.

“Their experience was a massive factor in the game today.”

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Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

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The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

Essentials

The flights

Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes. 
 

The stay

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Fixtures

50-over match

UAE v Lancashire, starts at 10am

Champion County match

MCC v Surrey, four-day match, starting on Sunday, March 24, play starts at 10am

Both matches are at ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City. Admission is free.

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Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

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Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

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Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include: 

  • Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
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  • Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
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  • Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Saand Ki Aankh'

Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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